Seasoned travelers always have a set of tricks up their sleeves to avoid potential issues during their journeys or to save a bit of money. Today, Heymondo wants to share with you the ultimate guide with travel recommendations to make your next trip as organized and peaceful as possible.
Do you want to know what our main tips for traveling are? Then don’t miss out! Take note!
Travel tips during the preparation of your trip
- One of the most expensive elements of a trip is flights, so try to buy them as far in advance as possible and keep an eye out for possible deals. Good planning is key to saving in this aspect. Try to purchase flights at least two months in advance to avoid their prices skyrocketing.
- Flexibility is one of the keys to saving on flight prices. If your job allows it, establish a slightly flexible vacation period (which can vary a few days before or after). The price difference between flights from one day to another can be enormous.
- There are many websites that offer flight prices, but searching for each one individually is a tremendous task. One of the most useful travel recommendations is to use cheap flight meta-search engines like Skyscanner, Kayak, or Google Flights, which automatically compare prices from most websites. Once you have chosen the flight that suits you best, search for it on the official website of the airline, as you may find it cheaper there.
- It’s normal to want to pack a lot of clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories for a trip, but avoid making that mistake; most of the time, we don’t use everything we pack in the suitcase. If you decrease the amount of things you take with you, you won’t have to carry heavy suitcases and you’ll save on paying for excess baggage at the airport.
- Many large cities offer so-called “City passes,” cards that are valid for a certain number of days and include free transportation and discounts or free admission to many museums and attractions. If you plan to make different visits in a large city, check the price of these cards and calculate if it’s worth buying one.
- Many tourist attractions must be booked in advance, and others are more affordable if you buy tickets beforehand. Try to purchase these types of tickets from home before traveling.
- Very important travel recommendation: remember to travel with all your documentation in order. An expired ID is enough reason for you not to be allowed to fly. Remember that in some countries, it’s not enough to have a valid passport; if it’s going to expire in the next six months, they won’t let you in either.
- To travel to some countries, you have to know what mandatory vaccines are required, but it’s an easy solution. Go to the nearest medical center, and they will inform you.
- If you are going to rent a vehicle in your destination country, try to make the reservation from home. Compare prices and read the rental conditions very carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises.
- Always travel with good travel insurance. It represents a minimal expense within your travel budget and will protect you against a lot of unpleasant situations like theft or accidents.
Travel tips when leaving for your trip
- Many low-cost airlines require you to have your tickets printed, otherwise, you’ll have to pay a fee to print them. Try to always have them printed and handy.
- Pay attention to the size and weight of the luggage you can carry according to your ticket. Some companies are very strict about this issue, and if you exceed the established measurements and weights, you’ll have to pay an extra fee.
- Usually, the arrival and departure airport of a trip are the same. If you’re going from the airport to the city by public transport, try to buy a round-trip ticket. It’s always cheaper than two one-way tickets.
- If you’re traveling to a country where you have to change currency, don’t do it at the airport or central stations, as the exchange rate is usually higher. In tourist areas, you’ll find many currency exchange offices; look for one that offers a fair exchange rate.
- Many countries have typical gastronomic products such as chocolates or cookies. If you want to buy such a product, remember that it will be cheaper in a supermarket than in a souvenir shop.
- In places where many tourists gather, there are often many pickpockets. Always try to keep your belongings safe and don’t get distracted. If you’re carrying a lot of money on you, try to have it separated into several parts. This way, if you get robbed, you won’t lose all your money.
- If you’re going to stay in the same country for a longer period, it’s worth investing in a local SIM card. It will allow you to stay in touch with friends and family, call taxis, and browse the internet without worrying about roaming or Wi-Fi fees. Make sure to bring an unlocked phone with you, as you won’t be able to install a local SIM card on a locked phone.
- Leave your important documents at the accommodation. It’s best to carry photocopies of all documents with you and leave the originals in a safe place, such as in the room or in a suitcase. This way, you can avoid problems and unexpected visits to the consulate or embassy.
Some tips for managing your expenses
Keeping track of your expenses is highly recommended if you don’t want to exceed your budget. In addition, nowadays, it’s very easy to keep your budget in check even while traveling. Using expense-tracking apps for travelers will help you whether you’re exploring the world alone or with friends.
Apps for sharing expenses with friends
If you’re traveling with friends, there are apps like SplitWise or Tricount that help you share expenses and allow you to create lists of common payments. These apps automatically divide the amount to be paid by each member and allow you to send reminders.
Apps to allocate a specific budget
Some apps will allow you to allocate a specific budget to each adventure. For example, if you’re a person who enjoys foodie trips and knows that you tend to exceed your budget on restaurants and gastronomic experiences, you can use TravelSpend. Remember that the better you plan your expenses, the more trips you’ll be able to make!
Tips for traveling with peace of mind
Travel insurance, as we have already mentioned, is highly recommended to add before embarking on the journey. However, there may be occasions when we forget to add it during preparation, and upon arrival at our destination, we want to incorporate it. With Heymondo, you can add travel insurance even if you are already abroad. You just have to keep in mind that the coverage will take effect 72 hours after purchasing it. After these 72 hours, you’ll be protected against any medical incident and you’ll have coverage for medical expenses due to illness or accident up to 10 million dollars.
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